Jackson Free Press

During the annual election of officers on Aug. 27, the Jackson Redevelopment Authority elected Jennifer Johnson as JRA's board president, replacing Bishop Ronnie Crudup. Commissioners selected Mat Thomas, an insurance-sales business owner, as JRA vice chairman even though Thomas' term has expired.

Those changes followed the ouster of Jones Walker as JRA's board attorney. Until today, Zach Taylor served as board attorney on Jones Walker's behalf. Pernila S. Brown will take over Taylor's duties as board attorney.

Beau Whittington, who represents Ward 1, was the most vocal opponent of the move.

"It would be a shame for this commission not to have the experience and institutional knowledge Zach Taylor brings to the table," Whittington said.

Crudup, also pastor of New Horizon Church International, said relieving Jones Walker would be "ineffective" and "financially imprudent."

Thomas said he believed the board has received bad legal advice and that it was time to make a change. Johnson said she was concerned about conflicts of interest with other Jones Walker clients.

Last fall, these conflicts became central in the legal tug-of-war between developer David Watkins and JRA over the Farish Street project. The JFP reported in October 2013:

Jones Walker is currently representing Retro Metro LLC and its principals Socrates Garrett and LeRoy Walker in four suits, including at least one against Watkins. The firm is defending Retro Metro in three of those suits against contractors who say they have not been paid for performed work, and the fourth against Watkins and his firm Meridian Law Enforcement Center LLC.

Stevens' motion details the following cases, involving Watkins and Retro Metro principals as defendants, as evidence of his conflict-of-interest claim:

1. Ellis v. Watkins Development, et al. – Jones Walker represents party Retro Metro LLC in a lawsuit over unpaid contractor bills.
2. Richardson v. Retro Metro LLC – Jones Walker represents Retro Metro in a similar dispute. Its attorneys also represented Leroy Walker and Socrates Garrett individually until they were dismissed earlier this month.
3. Climate Masters et al v. Watkins et al – Jones Walker represents Retro Metro principals, who have filed a counter-claim against Watkins.
4. Retro Metro LLC v. Watkins et al – Jones Walker represents Retro Metro LLC in a direct action against David Watkins, as well as the Meridian Law Enforcement Center LLC, which Watkins is a 75 percent shareholder in. In that case, Retro Metro is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages from Watkins.
5. Watkins v. Walker – Jones Walker attorneys represent Retro Metro principal Leroy Walker in a $75,000 claim for a breach of a promissory note.

Whittington and Crudup voted against ending the agreement with Jones Walker. Commissioner Michael Stark abstained.